[Paulj]

We've finally dog proofed our garden around all of the hedges using dark green plastic netting, but where there are flower beds infront of the hedge we'd like to put some small, maintenance free shrubs that can hide the netting, look pretty but are also dense enough to put the dog off from even trying to get through to say hello to our neighbours dog. Our dog is only a foot high so anything up to that height or above will be fine.

My initial thoughts, not that I know much about these things is that Hebe's would be quite pretty.  I know there are some varieties with red edges to the leaves, or even green/purple leaves, which would add a little colour all year round.

Any other suggestions?  Initially I need to cover a length of about 12 - 15 metres for one bed, but there will be many more required in the future.

Finally, do you think I've got a chance of ordering from a wholesale nursery instead of buying retail?  We cannot afford to do it retail, and I know the prices of these things can be as little as a £1 each for a 9cm pot that would cost me 2-3 times that in the garden centres.

[snowdrops]

Hebe would be fine,you could buy 1 or 2 varieties & take cuttings to increase your stock,slower but satisfying.

[Goosegirl]

Another suggestion is Euonymus. You can get different varieties where the larger-leaves ones grow a bit faster, and various leaf colour such as green and white or green and yellow. If planted in a big bed, they will spead horizontally but, if planted against a tree (as I have), fence or wall, will gradually grow up against it without any necessary support. They are also very hardy, easily-maintained, have a dense growth, evergreen, should be easy to proagate, and take kindly to even very hard pruning. They will have a sudden fall of leaves in summer, but that is natural and they do retail most of them, so don't worry. Other evergreen and hardy, dense growers are Escallonias with their different flower colour combinations of pink and white, or Cotoneaster horizontalis again trained up against the fence which will give you dense growth, evergreen/deciduous leaves which can be variegated and lovely when the frost gets on them, and red berries in autumn. Ceanothus is another possibility but research them as some varieties are more hardy than others and can be either deciduous or evergreen. Basically, I would recommend Euonymus as a dependable start. As I don't know your site aspect, soil type etc, the others recommended here will depend on these factors.

[ghost61]

For bulk buying, investigate whether there are any horticultural auctions in your area. We have a couple and they are great for bulk buying of bushes, bedding plants etc. the auctions are open to all and are probably where your local nurseries get their stock.

[Paulj]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Really useful as I know a little about stuff for the lotty, but nothing for the garden!  I will investigate all of the above suggestions.